HVAC air vent patterns

Abstract

A system and method are provided for a ventilation system in, for example, a vehicle. The ventilation system is configured to direct airflow relative to a user's position in the vehicle. The system may determine a first curved flow path and a second curved flow path and cause the ventilation system to direct a first airflow to the first curved flow path and direct a second airflow to the second curved flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a ventilation system configured to direct airflow; and   processing circuitry, coupled to the ventilation system, configured to:
 determine a first curved flow path and a second curved flow path; and 
 cause the ventilation system to direct a first airflow to the first curved flow path by controlling both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the first airflow and direct a second airflow to the second curved flow path. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path intersect, and wherein the intersection redirects the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a selection of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path based on a user input that selects the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path from a plurality of predetermined flow paths. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a touchscreen,
 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 cause the touchscreen to display a plurality of predetermined flow paths; and 
 determine a selection of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path based on a user input received by the touchscreen that indicates the selection of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path from the plurality of predetermined flow paths. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a touchscreen,
 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path based on detecting, from the touchscreen, user gestures that indicate a shape of each of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 determine a path speed based on a user input; and   cause the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to the first curved flow path by causing the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to follow the first curved flow path at the determined path speed.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path are relative to a vehicle seat and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 determine a location of the vehicle seat; and   cause the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to the first curved path and the second airflow to the second curved path based on the location of the vehicle seat.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a location of a user in a vehicle seat based on:
 seat position information of the vehicle seat occupied by the user; and   a captured image of the user, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to the first curved path and the second airflow to the second curved path based on the location of the user in the vehicle seat.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to the first curved flow path and direct the second airflow to the second curved flow path by causing the ventilation system to repeatedly follow the first curved flow path in alternating directions and to repeatedly follow the second curved flow path in alternating directions. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to the first curved flow path and direct the second airflow to the second curved flow path by causing the ventilation system to sequentially follow the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 determining a first curved flow path and a second curved flow path; and   causing a ventilation system to direct a first airflow to the first curved flow path by controlling both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the first airflow and direct a second airflow to the second curved flow path.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path intersect, and wherein the intersection directs the first airflow to the first curved flow path and directs the second airflow to the second curved flow path. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path comprises:
 determining a selection of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path based at least on a user input that selects the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path from a plurality of predetermined flow paths; or   detecting, from a touchscreen, user gestures that indicate a shape of each of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path are relative to a vehicle seat, and wherein the causing the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to the first curved flow path and direct the second airflow to the second curved flow path comprises:
 determining a location of the vehicle seat; and   causing the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to the first curved path and the second airflow to the second curved path based on the location of the vehicle seat.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein causing the ventilation system to direct the first airflow to the first curved flow path and direct the second airflow to the second curved flow path comprises causing the ventilation system to repeatedly follow the first curved flow path in alternating directions and to repeatedly follow the second curved flow path in alternating directions. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle comprising:
 an HVAC system configured to provide conditioned air, the HVAC system comprising an air vent configured to direct airflow of the conditioned air; and   processing circuitry, coupled to the HVAC system, configured to:
 determine a first curved flow path and a second curved flow path; and 
 cause the air vent to direct a first airflow of the conditioned air to the first curved flow path by controlling both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the first airflow and direct a second airflow of the conditioned air to the second curved flow path. 
   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path intersect. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a selection of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path based on:
 a user input that selects the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path from a plurality of predetermined flow paths; or   a detection, from a touchscreen, of user gestures that indicate a shape of each of the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path.   
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the first curved flow path and the second curved flow path are relative to a user, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 determine a location of the user; and   cause the air vent to direct the first airflow of the conditioned air to the first curved path and the second airflow of the conditioned air to the second curved path based on the location of the user.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an adjustable vehicle seat; and   a camera,   wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 receive one of:
 seat position information of the adjustable vehicle seat; or 
 an image of the user captured by the camera; and 
 
 determine the location of the user based on the received one of the seat position information or the image of the user.